PUMP TRACK SUSTAINABILITY
hi Lee, i purchased the ebook Welcome to Pump Track Nation a while back and am now scripting a proposal for our local parks. one concern is of course sustainability. i know that tracks treat their dirt with something to harden it up. do you know that is and have you used it?
thanks, john
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Hey John,
A lot of tracks use magnesium chloride. I have not applied it myself, but I’ve seen it in action at Keith Darner’s ranch. It makes the dirt very hard-packed.
You still need maintenance. Be sure your proposal includes a plan for volunteer upkeep.
Also:
It all starts with good, clean, homogenous dirt. Clay loam is awesome. The dialed track in the photo uses compacted base rock fines.
Make sure your track drains well. Drainage should be an integral part of the track design.
Make sure you have access to water. The ultimate track includes sprinklers.
Rock the three P’s—Planning, Prep and Packing. The more of these you do, the longer your track will last.
More details in Welcome to Pump Track Nation.
Good luck,
—Lee
5 Comments
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robyn@ProExotics Says November 12, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
i am lucky enough to have a great pump track, but i am SUPER LUCKY to have a riding buddy that loves to dig, shape and improve. he puts in ten times more work in our track than i do, he is out there perhaps 4 days a week, 2-4 hours a day, always digging, maintaining, and repairing. and riding, of course.
having a track is a blast, but it is definitely a good amount of work to keep it in great shape.
Kevin Stevens Says November 12, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Hey Lee,
I’m finally starting on my pump track as well. Where can I find the magnesium chloride? Is it spread on top of track or mixed in with the soil? I too have thought long and hard about packing the soil so it maintains a hard base. I’ve had several loads of dirt hauled in (5) to build large berms but I would like for these to be as hard packed as possible so they will drain and keep there shape.
Geert Says November 13, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Hello John/Lee,
The UCI has a BMX-track building-guide on their site.They recommmend normal (80% clay, 20% sand mixture= ideal) soil used for the basic shapes (starthill, jumps and turns), and thereafter a 15-20cm thick topsoil of high-quality soil that packs in good. The topsoil of the track should be able to become very hard after being watered and packed in.The topsoil should be a gravel-like material, with a size 0/16 (rocks no bigger than 16mm).
http://www.uci.ch/BmxTrackBuilding/start_content.html
When you have the money I think that will be very good for a pumptrack also…
gwadzilla Says November 15, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
I want a pump track…
but
what about pump tracks for big wheel bikes
I ride 29ers….
would the track need to be designed differently
leelikesbikes Says November 15, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
The standard Welcome to Pump Track Nation specs should work fine. If you open up the spacing just a bit, that might be even better.